Rick Warren

A lot of people  including those of us in ministry  are looking for joy in all the wrong places. As pastors, we want to find it in a bigger church, a more effective ministry, and often the accolades of our peers and church members. Yet we do this in vain. We wont find joy there.

Everybody needs a dream. Whenever you first got involved in ministry, you probably started with a big dream. Unfortunately, as you get into that ministry, your dreams shrink to the size of the situation. Probably the very first time you got involved in ministry you could foresee great things. Yet as we go on, circumstances tend to shrink our dreams

You tend to base your decisions on one of four motivations in life: circumstances, conveniences, criticisms, or convictions. Yet only decisions that are based on your convictions will last and leave a lasting legacy.

Everybody goes through wounding experiences in life  even those of us in ministry. Whether these wounds are physical, spiritual, emotional, or relational, theyre either in your life now or theyre coming. So what do we do when were wounded? Worship. Its the only antidote to our pain.

Jesus loved, touched, and cared for the people of his day who were isolated and hurting. In our day, people who are living with HIV/AIDS often hide their condition  even from family  out of fear or shame. The love of Christ compels us to reach out and care for people who are suffering alone.

Jesus loved, touched, and cared for the people of his day who were isolated and hurting. In our day, people who are living with HIV/AIDS often hide their condition  even from family  out of fear or shame. The love of Christ compels us to reach out and care for people who are suffering alone.

You can learn a lot about a person by the kind of prayer he prays. For instance, a selfish prayer indicates a selfish spirit. Have you ever heard a prayer that sounds like a Christmas list  I want this, and I want that? Some people try to impress you with their prayers, yet they come off as arrogant and prideful.

Did you know that God uses a very predictable process to build your character? I call this process the "Six Phases of Faith." If you dont understand this process, youll get discouraged when problems arise. Youll wonder, "Why is this happening to me?"